Steps for Senior Citizens to Take When Downsizing

When you’re older the decision to move from your home to a new smaller residence, possibly in a new community or your adult child’s home, can feel overwhelming. While the process of moving does bring with it many challenges to be overcome and decisions to be made, having a plan in place can help greatly in making the process a smooth one. Here are some important steps to take as you undertake this process.

Begin to think about moving before it becomes a necessity to act.

Talk with your family about your changing needs and lifestyle. Decide what the best course of action is for you, moving in with family, moving to a smaller house or apartment that will be easier to maintain, or moving into an assisted living facility or nursing home. Each individual has their own unique situation and preferences to take into account. There is no one right or wrong decision, you are simply looking for the one that best meets your needs.

Make a plan for the best way to transition to your new living arrangements.

Six months to a year in advance is not too soon to begin the process, meet with a real estate agent to find out the value of your home and the current state of the market in your area. Have your home inspected to learn what repairs and improvements if any should be done before putting your house on the market. Your real estate agent can be an invaluable resource in helping you find qualified contractors.

The next step is perhaps the most difficult: going through your possessions.

It can be very emotional to go through all of your things and decide what you wish to keep, what to give away to family, and what to sell or throw away. Some people find it easier to do this with a loved one’s help, others prefer to do it by themselves, while others prefer to pay for a company to assist them with the process. Whatever you decide, be sure to give yourself plenty of time, as most people underestimate how long it takes to go through all of their belongings. Remember to be patient with yourself, it can be an emotionally challenging process.

After you have made decisions on what to do with all of your possessions, it is time to begin the process of packing and moving.

Have your family and friends go through the items you will no longer be needing, and take anything that they could use. If you want to, you can then have a yard sale, sell items on Craigslist, or to save time and effort have an estate sale company handle the process for you.

Sharon, Ken and Donna, have extensive experience in helping clients and their families make housing decisions. They are intimately familiar with the process because they have experienced it, and have each personally navigated through different situations in helping their own parents. They have the knowledge and resources to help guide you through this transition and can provide everything from a free workbook for those downsizing, to a list of qualified contractors, moving companies, and businesses that perform estate sales. The process of moving out of your home is difficult enough, call upon their expertise to help make it simpler.